Dealing with dry, irritated eyes can be frustrating. Often, the constant stinging sensation won’t go away—and it gets in the way of almost every activity. If you’ve ever noticed a persistent burning feeling in your eyes in the springtime, you’ve likely wondered: what causes this? Is it pollen or something else?
Pollen can sometimes irritate your eyes and set off allergic reactions. This can quickly lead to irritating burning sensations. However, if you notice your symptoms stick around long after you’re away from pollen or other allergens, you could be dealing with a condition called “dry eye.”
The Link Between Pollen & Dry Eyes
Pollen is a common allergen found in trees, grass, and weeds. It often becomes airborne—especially during certain times of the year. However, even though it’s entirely natural, pollen is problematic for many people.
For those sensitive to it, exposure triggers a chain reaction in the body’s immune system. This, in turn, can set off allergies—especially when pollen comes in contact with your eyes—and can cause all kinds of unwanted symptoms.
How to Recognize Eye Allergies
When you’re dealing with allergies, also called allergic conjunctivitis, you’ll notice:
- Red, itchy, or watery eyes
- Sneezing and nasal congestion
- Swollen or irritated eyelids
- Sensitivity to light
- Blurred vision due to excessive tearing
These symptoms make it much harder for your eyes to keep themselves protected. After extended exposure, you’ll likely notice a persistent burning sensation. This dry feeling is a natural response to allergen exposure.
Why Does Pollen Irritate the Eyes?
If you have pollen allergies, then, when you come into contact with pollen, your body kicks into defence mode. The immune system releases chemicals like histamines to fight off what it perceives as harmful invaders. While the body’s intention is good, the side effects can be unpleasant—particularly for your eyes.
This immune response inflames the eyes as they try to flush away the allergen. If you’re constantly exposed to other allergens, this response becomes worse. The longer you’re exposed to allergens, the more persistent your symptoms become.
However, it’s important to note pollen doesn’t directly cause dry eye—even though the conditions feel similar. Pollen triggers allergies, while dry eye develops due to an imbalanced tear film. Knowing how to tell these problems apart makes it much easier to find relief.
Dry Eyes & Allergies: What’s the Difference?
It’s easy to confuse dry eyes with eye irritation from allergies. The two conditions share plenty of common symptoms, like persistent stinging sensations and visible redness. If you experience both at once, it can be particularly frustrating.
However, they are entirely different conditions. Allergies are immune responses while dry eye develops due to an imbalanced tear film. So how can you tell them apart?
Signs of an Allergic Reaction
Allergic reactions worsen when you’re exposed to an allergen. They shouldn’t happen year-round and tend to come and go. If you live in a high-pollen area, don’t dust very often, or even have pets, you can identify allergies by:
- Redness around the eyes
- Itching that feels impossible to scratch
- Swelling or puffiness
- Watery discharge
- Scratching sensations in the throat
- Congestion
These symptoms all develop as the body tries to flush away allergens. The effects aren’t contained to the eyes and can have repercussions in all kinds of systems throughout your body. If you’re dealing with scratching in your throat or congestion when your eyes burn, it’s likely allergies.
Signs of Dry Eyes
Dry eye can be caused by all kinds of environmental and medical factors. Anything that affects your tear film can lead to dry eye development—especially if you live in a harsh environment.
Dry eye often causes:
- Persistent dryness or a feeling like something’s stuck in your eye
- A burning or stinging sensation
- Grittiness, like sand in your eyes
- Blurred vision, especially when focusing intently
These symptoms can be temporary or chronic. However, dry eye doesn’t cause symptoms elsewhere—it only affects the eyes. If your symptoms don’t spread past your eyes, you’re likely experiencing dry eye.
Can an Optometrist Treat Dry Eyes?
If your eyes are persistently irritated or dry, your optometrist can help. First, we’ll assess your tear film and find the underlying cause of your symptoms. This helps us determine whether your symptoms come from allergies, dry eyes, or both.
Then, we’ll recommend treatment, typically including:
- Artificial tears and eye drops: These come in both prescription and over-the-counter forms. They supplement your tear film and help keep your eyes protected.
- Punctal plugs: These are tiny, painless inserts that block tear drainage, keeping your eyes naturally moist. These are an extremely effective way to address dry eyes and inflammation.
- LipiFlow: This is an in-office treatment that helps address the root cause of dry eye. It uses gentle heat and pressure to unclog blocked meibomian glands, restoring balance to your tear film.
We’ll also give you advice on making some at-home adjustments to avoid worsening your symptoms. Together, we can help you find the relief you deserve!
Find Relief From Your Eye Irritation
Pollen’s impact on your eyes can be disruptive. It’s a common allergen, but that doesn’t make it any less annoying. You deserve relief from dry eyes and allergies—and The Eye Care Team is ready to help.
Treatment starts with understanding what’s causing your symptoms. So make sure to book an appointment with us today! Relief could be right around the corner, and we’re here to keep your eyes comfortable and your vision clear.
